Prince Harry has said his grandmother, the Queen "understands more than anybody else" the duty to serve one's country.

The 26-year-old royal is likely to be deployed when his apache helicopter training comes to an end next year.

He served in the Helmand Province in 2008 with the Household Cavalry, but his tour was cut short when a media blackout was breached.

Speaking to BBC defence correspondent Frank Gardner about what his family will think about his deployment, the prince responded:

"They will be concerned, just as any other family.

"But my grandmother – and my father, of course, but my grandmother more than anybody else because at the end of the day she's the Queen – she understands that I'm serving my country and that's what I chose to do.

"It's what William chose to do as well, and that's what we'll continue to do."

He added: "While we're doing military service we may or may not be seen doing public engagements as much as the rest of the family.

"But we've got a job to do and if we're doing a job and that involves going out operationally or William flying in 100 foot cloud down the Welsh coast, then so be it.

"At the moment those are our jobs and that's what we're going to be doing."